The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-29

Of which he was member, contributed TO
defraying the expense of building the wall
by giving theatrical entertainments. Only
| a part of the cemetery was at that time in
closed, and that by a wooden fence, and in
terments were made anywhere in and about
| the Enclosure.
THE BODIES REMOVED.
Many of the descendants OF the older
| Georgia families whose kindred were buried
there have long since removed their re-
| mains. The old Houstoun vault has been
emptied of its dead, who have been rein
| tered in Bonaventure, and the old slab
with its armorial bearing, which was once
| one of the things to be seen, is now tablet
on an elegant memorial
The Screvens, Postells, Owens and other
well-known families have removed their
dead, as have thousands of Others whose
names are not SO well known, The old
cemetery has Jared much better than some
others which existed in the memory of those
now living. There was a large cemetery
Just south and east of the Savannah Hospi-
tai 1t was closed to interments about or
Just after the old cemetery was closed. IL
was the burial place of many of the active
business men of Savannah, whose
remains could not be deposited
in the old cemetery, because they
were not to the manor born, or had no rela
tions inferred in it. Savannah's most distin-
guished musician of the olden time, and
one of her most eminent physicians were
buried in that place, not so long ago but
that the pupils of the one and the patients of
the other are still not very old men.
SCANTIIY COVERED REMAINS
The hill on which that cemetery stood has
been cut down to a level with the surround
ing land. The dead lie only foot or two
below the surface. Streets have been run
through and fine residences now stand
where once stood vaults and monuments,
and flower gardens bloom where once the
sad willow dropped its slender leaves over the
dead No protest was ever entered against
that dissertation. 1t is easily to recall the
picket-fence over which the Cherokee rose
had climbed until the enclosing wood was
lost amid the wild flowers. There was still
another cemetery where the graves were as
''thick as leaves in Vallambrosan-the old
colored burying groundwhich extended from
near the corner of Charlton and Lincoln
streets far into the then south and east com
mons.
THE PoTTER's FIELD.
There was still another south of CASTOR
street, the "Potter's Field" and every ex-
cavation that is made in that ground for a
new building, and the digging for water
and gas mains brings to light the
SAD mementOeS or ltS former use
These old spots have been leveled and made
the sites of buildings. Foundations of houses
stand surrounded by the very bones of the
dead. Streets are laid out through them,
and wagons are daily hauled over the
graves, but there is no complaint. Yet
when the authorities wish to beautify the
old cemetery, convert it into a handsome
and well cared for park and to erect upon a
small portion of it building that will not
only be convenient but credit to the city,
there are protests and attorneys are sent to
the legislature to oppose them.
THE COMMISSIONERS PURPOSE
One of the County Commissioners said
that it was not intended to desecrate the
resting lace of the dead, but TO preserve it
from dissertation. There will be no disturb
ing of the sacred dust as has been done and
is still being done every day in the two
other old cemeteries. The Commissioners
propose to do better than did
the fathers of those, who are now
opposing the use of the old cemetery, to the
remains of those who were inferred in the
other burying grounds No streets will be
extended through the sacred place and no
building lots will be laid off. The old spot
will be made beautiful, and held sacred
from speculation.